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(No Mqdl.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W; 1-1. TUCKER.

FILEVBOX. v No. 290,498. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

r371 T WESSES ,QV'VEWTOR C(z v I I fli o r i zey (No Model.) 3-She,ets-Sheet 2.

W, H. TUCKER.

- FILE BOX.

No. 290,498. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

Attorney N. PETERS, Phalohthugmphu. Washing-1M, at.

' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

v W. H.*T'UGKER.

FILE Box, No. 290,498. v Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

WITNESSES IJV'VEJV'TOR I fa poo/(L A.

j. -W a; a .dttorney UNiTsn STATES ATENT tries.

FILE- BOX.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,498, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed September 28, 1883. (K0 model.)

To (0Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WVILLIAM H. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in File-Boxes or Paper- Holders, of which the following is a description, wherein is explained the principle of its operation, and its distinguishing features specifically claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for securing a follower-board of a file-box to the box and against its conapplied to a file-box, with the follower clamped against the contents thereof. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, showing the clamp released, and the follower inclined from its base. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the device separated from the follower-board,

and Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified form of the board-piece of the bracket.

The letter A represents a metallic bracket formed with the upright board-piece a, having the back rib, I), and sideflanges, c, the purpose beingto form a guideway for the lugs or flanges on the sleeve of the clamping-post, as hereinafter described. This bracket is also formed or provided with side extensions having down- 7 ward-extending arms cl, terminating in retaining-lugs e, extended at right angles to the arms, either outwardly or inwardly, and adapted to operate in slots and grooves in the bottom of the file-box. The bracket is secured to the follower board by screws or other suitable means. It is readily perceived that by lengthening the side extensions of the bracket or forming them in separate parts, with the arms and lugs, they may be applied and secured to the follower, and the arms and lugs be made to operate in grooves and slots formed at or in the sides of the box, in which latter in-- stance the upright boardpiece may be of the form seen in Fig. 6, which is identical with its form in other instances except that it is deprived of the side extensions.

The letter 13 represents small plates, formed with earsf, which are perforated and serve as bearings for the journal-pin of the actuatinglever. These plates are suitably secured to the face of the follower-board by screws or rivets.

tween the depending arms of the actuating-lever, and is formed with the arm i, open sleeve k, the lugs of which engage the flanges of the upright board-piece, and the outwardly-turned foot m, which is made, preferably, of the shape seen in the drawings, and rests on the bottom of the box, substantially as shown. The relative adjustment of this foot to a higher or lower position fixes the degree of incline of the follower when released, since the foot operates as a rest for the follower and admits of an incline according to the distance it is raised from the bottom of the box.

It will be seen that the connections of the device are so adjusted that when the follower is pressed against the contents of the box and the lever-handle forced down, the strain is thrown inward, and thus the follower becomes sufficiently clamped in place for all purposes intended.

One of the desired results attained by my improvement is that the follower at the foot, unless otherwise desired, when released, does not push back from the position in which it was retained by the clamp, but is substantially maintained in the same position and inclined lengthwise from the set or held base to .the

top, as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This function is an excellent one, because the unclamping does not disturb the base of the contents, and the reclamping can be effected simply by restoring the follower to its perpendicularity and forcing the foot down by the lever. This peculiar and special movement is attained by reason of the shape of the depending arms of the actuatin g-lever and their connection to the clamping post or arm. It will be seen that until the depending arms of the actuating-lever reach, in the releasing movement, horizontality, the foot is kept in frictional contact with the box which holds the base of the follower from slipping outward. Another advantage accruing from this power of retaining the base of the contents comparatively undisturbed is that the ends of the files are not worn by sliding along the material of the box.

It is obvious that the mechanical construction of the bracket and open sleeve may be reversed, and instead of the clamping-post being provided with a sleeve embracing the flanges of the board-piece, it may be formed with flanges extending beneath the flanges of a grooved board-piece, or of separated boardpieces provided with arms and lugs, substantially as shown and described.

The operation of the device is apparent from the foregoing description of it, but may be briefly stated as follows: To clamp the contents in the file-box after they have been inserted, the lever-handle is taken in the hand, and by it the follower-board is pushed against the contents until the desired compactness is attained, when the lever is pressed down, which in turn forces the foot of the clamping-post on the bottom of the box, and

by continuing the movement of the lever until its limit is reached the follower is secured in its place. position lets the follower tip backward on an incline from its base, and by simply drawing back the lever the follower may be moved to any desired position in the box.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the follower-board of a file-box, secured against vertical displacement and having fixed to its outer face an upright bracket formed with flanges, a vertical arm or post, having lugs or flanges engaging the flanges of the upright bracket, and an actuating-lever arranged on the follower, sub stantially as described. a

2. The combination of the follower-board of a file-box and a bracket secured thereto, formed with an upright board-piece having side flanges and side extensions formed with downward-extending arms and lugs operating in slots and grooves in the bottom of the box, with a vertical clamping-arm having an open sleeve or lugs engaging the flanges of the upright board-piece and an actuatinglever journaled to the follower, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the follower board and bottom of a file-box, the organized clamping means herein described, consisting of the bracket A, the clamping-arm D, and actuatinglever O, the whole arranged and combined substantially as set forth.

WV. H. TUCKER.

Vitnesses J. W. LOWE, .J. HEYLMUN.

Lifting the lever from its clamped 

